Buggy-top lock.



APL. BLALDGK.

BUGGY TOP LOOK.

APPLICATION run In 25, ms.

912,278. Patehted Feb. m, 1909.

ALONZO L. BLALOOK, OF MADISON, FLORIDA.

BUGGY-TOP LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed May 25, 1908. Serial No. 434,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo L. BLALocK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Madison and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Buggy-Top Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carriage tops and more particularly to a brace or support esecially designed for attachment to a buggy or preventing accidental folding of the top thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brace or support having means at one end for connection with the pivot bolt of the buggy top and provided at its opposite end with means for engagement with the knuckle brace of said top thereby to hold the top steady and lock the same against accidental folding.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will ap pear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the buggy top provided with a lock or brace constructed 111 accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the brace detached. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one end of the brace showing the same in position on the pivot bolt of the buggy top and bearing against the foot of the intermediate side bow or upright.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved lock or brace forming the subject matter of the present invention is especially desi ned for attachment to the folding tops 0 buggies, carriages and similar vehicles and by way of illustration is shown applied to a buggy of the ordinary construction in which 5 designates the top. 6 the side bows and 7 the inclined knuckle brace forming a connection between the prop bolt 8 and top bolt 9, as shown.

The device consists of a flat longitudinal bar 10 having one end thereof provided with an opening 11 for the reception of the pivot bolt 12 of the intermediate side bow or upright 12, the opposite end of the bar being disposed at the rear of the knuckle brace 7 and provided with a plurality of perforations 13.

Secured to the outer fiat face of the bar 10 is a metal strap or clip 14 having one end thereof bent to form a hook 15 inclined to conform to the inclination of the brace 7 and adapted to embrace the latter when the bar is positioned 011 the buggy top. The plate or clip 14 is rigidl secured to the bar 10 by screws or similar astening devices 16, the openings 15 serving to permit adjust meut of the plate 14 longitudinally of the bar 10 so that the device may be used on different styles of buggies.

The perforated end of the bar 10 is curved or rounded at 17 to provide an over-hanging cap defining a pocket for the reception of the foot of the intermediate side bow or upright 12, the walls of the pocket being concaved to conform to the shape of the foot or base of the upright, as shown.

In using the device the bar 10 is positioned on the shank of the bolt 12 with the cap 17 bearin against the foot of the upright 12' and with the hook 15 embracing the knuckle 7 after which a downward pressure is exerted on the free end of the bar thus forming a rigid brace between the central prop an knuckle brace and effectually preventing accidental folding of the buggy top.

Attention is here called to the fact that the opening 11 in the bar is of greater cross sectional diameter than the shank of the bolt 12 so that when the hooked end of the bar is forced downwardly on the knuckle brace 7 the cap 17 will bear against the base of the upright 12 and effectually clamp the same, this result being accomplished by the pressure exerted on the brace 7 by the hook 15 when the latter is forced in the direction of the prop bolt 8.

In order to release the bar 10 so as to permit the top to be folded an upward pressure is exerted on the free end of the bar 10 and the latter moved upwardly until the hook 15 is disengaged from the knuckle brace 7 after which the bar is swung downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and in which position the free end of the bar will rest on the amp bolt so as to be out of the way when t e buggy top is collapsed.

While I have shown and described a single lockin bar or brace on one side of the carriage it will of course be understood that a similar bar or brace may be arranged on the opposite side of the carria e, the locking devices or braces being pre erably used in pairs.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be seen that there is provid an extremely simple, inexpensive and eflicient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a folding vehicle top including the side bows, pivot bolt and knuckle brace, of a rigid bar having one end thereof formed With an opening for the rece tion of the bolt and its opposite end provided with means for engagement with the knuckle brace, the perforated end of the bar being provided with an overhanging ca 3 adapted to bear against the base of the a jacent side bow.

2. The combination with a folding vehicle top including the side bows, pivot bolt and knuckle brace, of a ri id bar pivotally mounted on the bolt and aving its free end extended behind the knuckle brace and provided with means for enga ement with said brace, the pivoted end 0 the bar being curved and provided with an overhanging cap for the reception of the base of the adjacent side how.

3. A buggy brace comprising a longitudinally disposed bar having one end thereof rovided With an opening and its oposite end formed with a plurality of pertorations, the end of the bar adjacent the opening being curved and bent to form an overhanging cap, the inner wall of Which is concaved, a plate secured to one side of the barand provided with a terminal hook, the bill of Which is deflected laterally, and fastenin devices passing through the plate and per orations 1n the bar for clamping the plate in position on said bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO L. BLALOGK.

Witnesses:

W. J. MALoY, J. C. ARMSTRONG. 

